Fisheries Act 1982.

Principal objectives of this Act are: (a) ensuring the conservation, preservation of the living resources through the implementation of proper fisheries management measures; (b) achieving the optimum utilisation and equitable distribution of those resources. Parts 2 and 3 establish the powers of the Commonwealth Minister and various management committees (in particular, the Joint Authorities and the Fisheries Officers). The exercise of fishing activities is subject to the issue of a licence by the Minister. Likewise, the Act regulates the leases or the licences to farm, take or process fish. According to the provisions of section 51 the Governor may make regulations for the control of exotic fish, the regulation of fish farming, and the control of disease in fish, and may by such regulations: (a) prescribe the measures to be taken for the prevention, elimination or control of disease in farm fish, or the prevention of the escape of farm fish or water used for the purpose of fish farming; (b) require any person operating a fish farm or keeping any fish to notify the Director of the occurrence of disease or symptoms of disease in the fish farmed or kept by that person; (c) prohibit, restrict or regulate the sale or processing of farm fish; (d) prohibit, restrict or regulate the bringing into the State or possession or control of fish that may be affected by disease; (e) prescribe the powers of fisheries officers for the detection, prevention, elimination or control of disease in fish.
The Governor may, by proclamation, declare any waters, or land and waters, to be an aquatic reserve, or constitute marine parks for the purpose of protecting the aquatic flora or fauna or the aquatic habitat of those waters. The Governor may also abolish, alter the boundaries of, or alter the name of a marine park. The control and administration of marine parks is entrusted to the Minister. He may grant on appropriate terms and conditions a lease or licence entitling a person to rights of entry, use or occupation in respect of a marine park. Further provisions concern the preparation of a plan for the management of the marine park. As regards the protection of aquatic habitats, the Act prohibits to engage in activities, which may involve or result in disturbance of the bed of any waters or removal of or interference with aquatic or benthic flora or fauna of any waters.